His Moral Fiber is an Inspiration to Us All

Are there any Republican Senators left who are not under criminal investigation? Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock is now aware that long-serving Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig has joined his GOP colleagues David Vitter and Ted Stevens in the cathouse, doghouse, and in Craig's case, the outhouse, where he apparently tried to solicit anonymous sex at an airport bathroom from a chap who turned out to be an undercover cop. Better luck next time, Larry....maybe at the Atlanta airport bathroom.

Funny as the story is, I'm not seeing how this sordid affair should necessarily result in Senator Craig being pressured out of his seat. I can see why he would resign out of embarrassment, but it's a sad commentary on our society that a victimless would-be sex crime like this could provoke colleague after colleague to throw one's career of public service under the bus while the legalized thievery that occurs every day in Washington goes perpetually unpunished. Larry Craig's actions may be weird, disgusting, and hypocritical, but are they really criminal? I think that should be up to Idaho voters to decide, not fellow Republican Senators like John McCain and Norm Coleman who are trying to salvage their party's reputation (and their own) by seizing on Craig's misfortune and calling for him to resign.

With all that said, I just love to see even more Republicans setting the party up for a 2008 defeat even more devastating than the party suffered in 2006. Larry Craig's bad press not only further deteriorates the Republican brand, but could even put the crimson red state of Idaho into play next year, with or without Craig still around. While the prospects of the Democrats winning any federal statewide office in Idaho (particularly if Hillary's at the top of the ticket) are remarkably slim, it will nonetheless be hotly contested if it's an open seat, and I'm pretty sure it will be as I suspect Larry Craig will toss in his badge before the end of the week. If the Republicans are forced to spend party money defending Idaho next fall, they're in huge trouble.

I've made no secret that I'm disgusted with some of the legislative priorities that Democrats have pursued since taking over Congress, but still find myself rooting for them to gain seats when I remind myself how ethically and intellectually bankrupt the opposition is.